Description:Rebutia canigueralli (more often known as Sulcorebutia canigueralli) is a slow growing clustering cactus that may forms clumps of many heads. This is a highly variable species with several variety available with light green to purple colouration and small spines. Stem: Rapidly offsetting from the base, small, grey-green, green to dark purple A characteristic of this species is that the offsets develop roots while still attached to the mother. Individual stems 2(4) cm tall, 3(5) cm in diameter.Ribs: With raised tubercles (3-5 mm wide) . In older plants tubercles are arranged in up to 13(-16) spiral line merging in the apex.Areoles: 3 mm long, narrow with short white felt.Roots: Conical.Radial spines: 11 to 14, fine, bristly, 1,5-2 (or more) mm long tight, pectinate, pointing diagonally and downward, that recurve and hug the tubercles so as not to be felt. Whitish, greyish, straw coloured, brown with darker base or almost black. Sometime interlaced.Central spines: None or 1-2 ± erect.Flowers: From the basal part of the stem, 20 - 50 mm long, 35 - 50 mm wide Orange, Orange-red, lilac or dark magenta, often bi coloured, with yellow or white throats. Floral tube funnel-shaped yellowish-green or yellowish-red with tan coloured scales,It is a species with very variable flower colours.Phenology: Flowers are produced in late spring and remain open for three or four days.Fruit: Dark brownish red approx 4-5 mm wide.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Rebutia canigueralli group

Rebutia canigueraliiCárdenas: Slow growing clustering cactus that may forms clumps of many heads. This is a highly variable species with several forms with light green to purple colouration and small spines. Flowers mostly bicoloured orange, red or purple with a yellow throat, but the amount of red vs. yellow varies widely.

Rebutia canigueralii subs. crispata(Rausch) Donald ex D.R.Hunt: Forms small globular bodies nearly obscured by a variable ivory to golden spination. Spines are pectinated, bristly, flexible and more or less curved. Freely clusters to form large mounds.

Cultivation and Propagation: Rebutia canigueralii is a mountainous plants with a thick taproots and is susceptible to overwatering, it grows rather slowly and need a very good drainage to avoid rotting. It requires also an appropriate air circulation and is sometime grafted to avoid root problems. Soil: It loves a very permeable, coarse mineral soil.Repotting: It require a deep pot suited to accommodate the swollen root, repotting with fresh potting-mix should be done every other year or when the plant has outgrown its pot. However, repotting doesn't necessarily mean they'll need larger containers. To prevent rottenness it is also advisable to surround its root neck by very rough sand or grit, this help a fast water drainage. Sun Exposure: Light shade when young, full sun later ( light shadow my be useful in the hot summer days)Hardiness: Plants are and quite frost hardy -5 (-15)° C but preferably overwinter in a cool place (at 0/10°C). They need to be kept in a cool place during winter rest. This is important for the flowers, as well as for their health. Without this cool winter period, they normally won't get many buds.Watering: It requires moderately watering through the growing season. This can be done weekly or more frequently during the summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, but allow to dry fully before watering again. Kept this way, plants will show a healthy growth. Keep rather dry as soon as the temperature starts dropping in October and keep it strictly dry throughout the winter quiescent period since ot is very sensitive to any moisture excesses. The plants may survives outside without protection in winter (cold hardy to -5° ) but is then somewhat prone to rot, too.Fertilization: Give an occasional high potassium liquid feed during the active growing period.Garden uses: It is a fine plant for a rock garden or container, contrasts well with agaves, yuccas, and low-growing flowering plants. Nice planted with Agave utahensis, another very hardy species. Pest and diseases: They are generally fairly easy to grow, especially if kept pest-free. They are susceptible to, scale insects and spider mite. Watch carefully for infestations of stem and root mealy bugs, and damage from these may well initiate fungal attack.Propagation:Propagation: Seed, cutting, grafting. Take cuttings spring or summer, let them dry till the ends callous well. Then replant them in fresh cactus soil that is ever so slightly moist, and keep it that way till they root. Surface sowing is the best; seeds germinate in 14-28 days at 20° C, remembering that seedlings dislike strong light and dry conditions.